Absent.....

So I have been MIA for over a month.  I know.  If you are all still out there,  things just have been sooo busy!!!  Summer was busy, but wow, school has started and it is full steam ahead.

The last two days I have been teaching in a kindergarten class.  I have a semi-long term sub job right now in a kindergarten class.  It is a challenge.  I am planning on continuing my journey through interest crafts as well as "Why Vegan".  It may have to be every other Thursday / Tuesday.

I am adjusting to having my second child in full time school and my youngest in preschool.  It doesn't seem possible.  Time sure flies!!!  There is a lot of exciting things happening this year ahead and I will reveal more in the future when it is for sure.

In the meantime- I really hope that you enjoyed your summer and are looking forward to as awesome as a fall as I am.

Friday With Friends

Today was Friday- it is officially the weekend!! We got a head start on weekend plans.  We went through all the kids' clothes and got rid of A TON of stuff, washed their sheets, scrubbed some crayon off the wall, and even ran a few errands.  We accomplished quite a bit- so I felt it was deserving to go and visit some friends who I had not seen in several years.

They were staying a few miles away at a campground in the National Forest.  I drove out there- barely beating the rain- to hang out with them for a bit.  The last time I had seen them Kai was only a baby, and as a matter of fact we were trying to decide if they had even met Kai.  We got there, after driving around the forest for a bit and stumbling upon their campsite by chance, just in time for the rain to come down.  Luckily they had an awning set up we could sit under.

The kids had a blast running around finding bugs and climbing trees with my friends' kids.  They all got good and muddy- as is the marker for a day well spent in childhood!  And came home exhausted.  There was no fight this evening for bedtime!!! (I am contemplating taking them to the woods to run around every evening before bed).

It is always so good to see friends you haven't seen in awhile- which is part of the reason we stayed for so long talking.  It was hard to leave, knowing that we wouldn't see them again for another year or perhaps longer.  But thankfully Mark Zuckerberg created this nifty little internet tool called Facebook and we can be a part of each others' lives from across the world.

Thursday- no craft, but hiking fun

I know I said I would be doing Pinterest crafts on Thursdays.  I still plan to.  I have a big one staring me in the face- I am procrastinating (partly because of the lack of a belt sander and stencils that I would need for the project but also because it is a big project that is a bit daunting).  But today there is a better reason I didn't do a project.

I took my kids hiking up a mountain to some caves with some other moms from our local MOPs group.  We had so much fun.  My kids were their typical selves- Arydona was making friends with the moms and being unique and creative turning an old camera into her "GPS" and Kai was running with the big boys and making playdate plans (without my input).

It was fun getting out and hiking and getting to know the other moms better.  I feel like we are finally getting to know people well here in town and it is such a great place to be.  Also getting to see the kids explore  nature hands on is such a wonderful experience.  The excitement of seeing the lizards, exploring the caves, holding rocks; it is all so very magical for them.

So, I am sorry that I didn't get a chance to do a project for you, today.  But my kids had such a great time exploring and we did something much longer lasting than a craft.  Hopefully I will get a project done next week- heck, maybe two!! But this week we hiked.

What I Wore Wednesday- Fail

Again, this week I won't be linking up.  Summer is so busy!! This week Bryce was working day shifts and I was running to Dr appointments.  I didn't get any pics done for What I Wore Wednesday.

On the other hand, I loved having my husband home in the evenings to hang out with.  He is so fun to spend time with!!!!! I like having him around.

I was sick this week- I had strep throat.  I haven't had that in years!! I am on antibiotics now and so it is better.  Yesterday I had to drive to Phoenix (still feeling sick) to see a gastro-enterologist.  I will find out in three weeks if I actually have celiac or if it's just a gluten intolerance.  I am glad to know!!!

This is another case where I wish we had a full length mirror because I looked really cute yesterday!! But no pics! So I am going to do my best to get back on track next week. Especially since the following week I will be MIA again.....for the most part.

Today is Monday.....

Today is Monday.   Today felt like Monday.  Things are finally starting to go back to normal- somewhat.  Last week was such an adjustment.  And so compared to last Monday, today was a Saturday!!

Last Monday was rough.  It was a major lesson in appreciation, understanding, and communication.  I am really glad last Monday didn't repeat this Monday.

I had been gone for a week and returned last Sunday (sorry for the week off, folks, last week was a definite adjustment!).  I was soooo tired.  Sunday I slept most of the day.  The little errands we did run I was in a daze and walked around like a zombie.  The problem was Bryce had an understanding that I would come back ready to basically take over (which I totally wish I could have!!) and though I had thanked him, felt under appreciated.  I understand, having been in his shoes, how that return feels a little lack luster.  I felt I had showed him understanding and appreciation.  But somehow, we lacked the communication- I had not explained to him well enough that I felt exhausted and couldn't function.  He had not communicated to me that he needed me to appreciate him or how he was feeling.

We found our way through the confusion.  We managed to find our words and talk about it.  But it is a lesson that we need to continue to communicate every expectation as well as every limitation to each other.  Open hearts and open words are what make marriage work.  They make every relationship work.  And it doesn't help to remember that even though today is Monday, don't worry- Friday isn't far away.

What I Wore Wednesday

I am  not linking up with the Pleated Poppy this week.  I am not posting pictures of what I wore.  This is a special "What I WoreWednesday".  This Wednesday I am going to talk a little about the importance of what to wear   Modesty is something that is foreign to our society-

Our society would think this is a valid dress (It was my bathing suit cover up).  I wear this dress a bit- as a shirt.  If I was shorter, I could get away with using this as a dress.  But I am not shorter, so it is a shirt.  One thing that people seem to forget is that your body shape makes a difference in how you wear your clothes.

I am a curvy girl- I would never wear this shirt without a tank or cami underneath it. A smaller busted girl could get away without one.

This is the way to wear a see through shirt- I have recently seen too many girls running around with their bra showing through a see through shirt like this.  Just because you are physically covered with fabric doesn't make it appropriate.  Wear a tank under a see through shirt- please, ladies. And especially so if it is see through shorts, wear some mini shorts!!!

Modesty is important.  There are many people more modest than myself.  There are many less so. I just think we as a society need to be dressing more like ladies and not like tramps and stop wondering why we get treated like we are selling it.  I will step off my soapbox and get back to the normal swing of things next week.

I've Been Absent-

I am at High School Youth Camp this week!! We are in California, and it is sooo hot!!! We are staying up late and getting up early.  I am telling you, exhausting.  I am going to try and post this week at some point.  I promise.  Until then, have a great time!! I am